Sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders.



No. 64I,I27. Patented Jan; 9, I900. m. & E. LIGHT & c. BUSSERT.

SHEAF SHOCKING MECHANISM FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.)

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/ Patented Jan. 9, I900. M. & EfLIGHT 8:." C. BUSSERT.

SHEAF SHOCKING MECHANISM FOR GRAIN BINDEBS.

(Application filed Kpr. 15, 1899.)

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& E. LIGHT & l. c. BUSSEBT. SHEAF SHOCKING MECHANISM FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.)

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Patented Ian. 9, I900. C. BUSSERT.

M. &. E. LIGHT 8'. I. SHEAF SHOCKING MECHANISM FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

No. 64l,l27.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.3

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

m: norms Fangs co, PHOTOLITHOY, WASHINGTON, a c.

N0. 64|,|27. Patented Ian. 9, I900. M. & E. LIGHT &. I. C. BUSSERT.

SHEAF SHOCKING MECHANISM FOR GRAIN BINDERS.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.)

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MizLvIN nicer, ELvnu Lieiir, AND ISAAC c. nussnn'r, or sHELnoiv, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS or ounrouarn TO HENRY E. STRIOKLER,

' OF SAME PLACE.

SIHEAF-SHOC'KING MECHANISM FoR GRAIN-smokes;

srncrmearioufomiin 15m of Letters Patent No. 641,127, dated January 9, who. Application filed April 15, 1899. serial No. 713,118. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- V

Beit known that we, MELVIN LIGHT, ELVEN LIGHT, and ISAAC O. BUSSERT, citizens of the United States, residing at Sheldon, in the county of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful sheaf-Shocking Mechanism for Grain-Binders, of which the following is a specification. 1

Our invention relates to a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders designed to be used in connection with different kinds, of such machines for the purpose of receiving the bound sheaves therefrom and operative for compacting a series of such sheaves into a shock, of binding and tying the shock, and automatically discharging the bound shock, grain end up, onto the ground.

The shocking mechanism of our invention is applicable to that side of the grain-binder on which the part known as the bundlecarrier is ordinarily used; but our shocking mechanism is used in lieu of or takes the place of the bundle-carrier. Such shocking mechanism has its operative elements driven by a shaft which is propelled by a moving part of the grain-binder-such, for example, as the pitman-driving shaft of the cutter apparatus-so that the sheaf-shocking mechanism is operated wholly automatic, and our mechanism is designed to be propelled at a slightly-greater speed than the gavel compacting and tying mechanism of the grainbinder, to the end that the sheaves may be promptly carried away fromthe delivery side of the binder to avoid clogging or stopping of the machine. While the sheaf carrying or feeding mechanism of our shocker is operative to expeditiously remove the bound sheaves from the delivery'side of the binder, the other working elements operate at comparatively slow speed, so that there will be,

no excessive friction and Wear; and by loeating the sheaf-shocking mechanism at the delivery side of the binder and on the oppo site side of the machine to the cutter apparatus and by employing means for-propelling the sheaf-shocking mechanism from the hinder the objectionable side draft on the binder will be largely reduced or overcome.

ing and compacting mechanism.

One of the important features of our inven-' tion is the provision of means by which the sheaves are placed on end immediately after delivery from the binder proper and during the period of their transit to the shock forni- In one embOdllIiBlli] of this part of our invention We employ a conduit or chute, consisting of side walls spaced apart and terminating adjacent to a horizontal dumping sheaf-receiving cradle at the delivery side of the binder, and one of said walls is inclined or given a quarter-turn at the end adjacent to said cradle, so that the sheaf may be delivered by the cradle upon'the inclined part ofthe wall in an approximately horizontal position, Whereby as the sheaf travels or slides along the quarter-turned wall ofthe conduitit will assume an upright position, so as to stand end up within the chute or conduit for delivery in that condition to the shock-forming mechanism.

In our machine the bound tively moved along the conduit by a novel form of sheaf-feeding mechanism which contemplates, essentially, .two traveling rakes having reciprocatory and oscillating motion lengthwise of and across the sheaf conduit or chute. One of these rakes is carried by the crank of an upright shaft located contiguous to the curved wall of the conduit, and another rake is on the crank of a shaft which is driven from the first-named rake-shaft to insure the two rakes working in unison, so that one rake advances the bound sheaf to a position where the sheaf will be engaged by the other rake, whereby the rakes propel the sheaf from the dumping-cradle to the shock-forming mechanism.

The shock forming mechanism contemplates the employment of movable curved members normally closed together to receive the bound sheaves and adapted to yield or give automatically and slowly as the sheaves are carried successively thereto until a sufficient number of said sheaves shall have been delivered to form a shock, after which the sheaves are bound. Said members are carried by rocking shafts geared together to insheaves are posi sure simultaneous and uniform motion to the members, and with one of said shafts is combined means which positively spreads or opens the members to the full limit for the easy removal of the bound shock from the machine. One rock-shaft carries a cam arranged to ride against a stop-lever which normally holds a trip out of the path of a rotary element; but on the release of the trip from the stop-lever the members of the shockforming mechanism are positively actuated by suitable means and swung open to their full limit.

With the shock-forming mechanism is associated means for binding the shock consisting of a reciprocatory needle arm or bar adapted to carry a binding-twine and operative in connection with a suitable type of knot-tying mechanism; but during the formation of the shock this needle-bar is at rest, the means for actuating the needle-bar being thrown automatically into service by the trip mechanism associated with the shock-formin g mechanism to positively open the latter.

The bound shock after the opening of the shock-forming members is positively discharged from the machine so as to stand grain end up on the ground, and said shock-delivery mechanism contemplates the employment of endless traveling chains having spaced pusher-bars, said chains being driven from a clutch-controlled shaft. The clutch of this shaft is normally free from a driving-gear; but it is adapted to be thrown bya shippinglever that is linked to a trip-shaft having a finger in the path of an arm on a rock-shaft of one shock-forming member, whereby as said member is opened to its full limit the arm actuates the trip-shaft to move the shipping-lever, which throws the clutch into gear for the positive operation of the shock-delivery mechanism.

Our invention further consists in the novel combinations of mechanisms and in the c011- struction and arrangement of the several parts for service, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, we have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forminga part of thisspeciiication, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of our sheaf-shocking mechanism in operative relation to the delivery side of a grain-binder, a fragment only of the latter being indicated. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the delivery end of the sheaf-shocking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional plan View on a plane above the rake mechanism for moving the bound sheaves through the turning conduit or chute, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 4: 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the counter-shaft and the trip devices thereon,

the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the two members constituting the shock-forming mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation of the driving-gear for the shock-delivery mechanism on the plane indicated by the dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the means for automatically shipping the clutch of the shockremoving conveyer on the opening of the shock-compressing members. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional elevation on the plane of the dotted line 9 9 of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the quarter-turned surface of the sheaf conduit or chute to the dumping-cradle, the inner extremity of the turned surface being approximately in an arc of ninety degrees.

The same numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings we have represented so much of the delivery side of a grain-binder as is necessary to enable others skilled in the art to which this invention relates to understand the mode of application of our improved sheaf-shocking mechanism for use in connection with such grain-binder, and in this connection we desire to state that the sheaf-shocking mechanism of our invention is employed in the position ordinarily 00- cu pied by the bu ndle-carrier of a grain-binder. It will be understood, therefore, that the bundle-carrier of the grain-binder is dispensed with and in lieu thereof our sheaf-shocking mechanism is connected operatively to the delivery side of the binder. That part of the binder with which our mechanism is associated is designated by the numeral 15 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; but as the delivery side 15 of the binderis of the usual construction well known in the art we have not considered it necessary to particularly describe the same.

Our improved sheaf-shocking mechanism contemplates the use of a platform 16 on which the sheaves are arranged in upright positions to form the shock, and this platform is connected in operative relation of the delivery side of the binder and is supported partly thereby and partly by a suitable wheel, so that the platform will move or travel with the binder. Said platform has a part thereof disposed in an inclined position, and at the receiving-corner said platform is constructed with sills 17. Posts 18 are secured to these sills, and supporting-arms 19 are united firmly to the framework of the platform, said supporting-arms being fashioned or constructed for secure attachment to the delivery side 15 of the grain-binder. The platform is thus connected firmly at one corner to the binderframe and the opposite side of said platform is equipped with a suitable carrying-beam 20.

Near the receiving-corner of the platform 16 is arranged the short vertical shaft 21,Which is journaled in proper bearings of the bracket 22, fixed solidlyto the sills 17 or framework of the platform. This short vertical shaft 21* is adapted to be driven by power connections with the moving part of the grain'binder itself, and said shaft has operative connections with a vertical shaft 47, adapted to propel the several working elements of the sheaf-shocking mechanism, whereby the shaft 21 constitutes the main driving-shaft of the machine of our invention. As one means for propelling the main driving-shaft 21 we provide a power-shaft 23, which is arranged in a horizontal position in operative relation to the sheaf-shocking mechanism and the grainbinder, and this power-shaft is adapted to be geared to or'driven in any suitable way from the pitman-driving shaft of the cutter apparatus on the binder. One end of the powershaft terminates adjacent to the main drivingshaft 21, and on said end of the shaft 23 is secured a beveled pinion 24", which meshes directly with a bevel-gear 24 on the main driving-shaft 21. The platform 16 of the sheafshocking mechanism is provided at one end and adjacent to the shock-forming appliances on said platform with a transverse slot 25, adapted to accommodate the driving-shaft 133 for the shock-delivery mechanism, by which the shock is positively carried away from the inclined portion of the platform 16, as will hereinafter appear.

On the platform 16 are erected the vertical posts or columns 26 27, which are adapted to support the movable members of the shockforming mechanism, and these posts or columns are arranged parallel to each other adjacent to the slot 25 in the platform in order to provide a spacethrough which the bound sheaves from the conduit or chute may pass into the space inclosed by the members of the shock-formin g mechanism. The posts orcolumns 26 27 are provided at their lower ends with the angular feet 28, which are disposed to clear the slot 25 in the platform, and said feet are secured firmly on said platform by the transverse bolts 29, whereby the posts or columns are made to overhang the slot in the platform.

The sheaf-shocking mechanism of our invention has certain of its parts constructed for vertical adjustment to accommodate sheaves of different lengths, thus adapting the shocking mechanism to grain which may varyin length, and in this view of the matter we employ a horizontal frame 30,which is adjustablevertically on the posts or columns 26 27, said vertically-adjustable frame carrying the binding and tying appliances of the machine and having certain parts of the shockfortning mechanism connected operatively thereto for extensible adjustment with said frame. The adjustable frame 30 is disposed at the upper end of the posts or columns ina plane substantially at right angles thereto, and said frame consists, essentially, of aplate or beam 31 and flanged brackets 32. The brackets 32 are fashioned or constructed for application to the posts or columns in a manner to be adjusted vertically thereon, and said brackets thus have interlocking engagement with the posts or standards, suitable bolts 33 being employedto firmly hold the brackets in their adjusted positions on the columns in order to maintain the plate or beam 31 at variable distances above the platform 16. The flanged brackets and plate or beam 31 are bolted firmly together, and the plate 31 is thus adapted to partake of any vertical adjustment of the brackets on said columns.

We will now proceed to describe the mechanism by which the bound sheaves are delivered from the binder to the turning chute or conduit of the sheaf-shocking mechanism. This means consists of the dumping-cradle 34, arranged in a horizontal position at the Said cradelivery side of the grain-binder. die consists of horizontal shaft 35 and a series of fingers 36, which are secured firmly to the shaft and extend toward the receiving end'of the turning chute or conduit, and said shaft of the dumping-cradle is journaled in suitable bearings of the inclined arms 37, which are fixed to the platform-attaching arms 19 of the sheaf-shocking mechanism. To one end of the shaft 35 of the dumpingcradle is rigidly secured a crank-arm 38, which is adapted to be driven by a pitman 39, having operative connections with one of the reciprocating and oscillating rakes forming a part of the sheaf-feeding mechanism by whihh the sheaves are positively propelled or moved lengthwise of the turning-conduit.

As hereinbefore stated, one of the impor tant features of our improved sheaf-shocking machine consists ofa turning chute or conduit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40, and this chute or conduit is situated between the dum pin g-cradle 34 and the shockforming mechanism in order to guide or direct the sheaves as they are delivered from the vibratory dumping-cradle to the shock forming mechanism. Much difliculty has hereinbefore been experienced in providing means by which the sheaves may be ended up or placed on end for binding the sheaves into an upright shock; but we have overcome this difficulty by employing a chute or conduit which serves to automatically end up the sheaves and deliver the same in an upright condition into the shock-forming mechanism by which the sheaves are bound into the shock. The turning chute or conduit extends between the (lumping-cradle and the shock-forming mechanism, and said chute is curved for the purpose of changing the course of the sheaves as they travel from the binder to the shockforming mechanism, whereby the sheaves are adapted to stand on the plat-form for delivery from the proper side of the binder. The turning-chute herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment for inverting the position of the sheaves consists,essentially,of side walls 41 42 and a bottom 43, and these walls and bottom extend continuously from the posts or columns 26 27 to the vibratory dumping-cradle 34, as clearly shown by Fig. 1. The curved wall 41 of the turning chute or conduit is imperforate throughout its length and is arranged in a vertical position,but the other wall 42 of the chute is given a quarter-turn, so that one end of the wall 42 lies in an inclined position adjacent to the vibratory cradle 34, while the other end of said wall 42 is in a vertical position for rigid application to the post or column 26. It will therefore be seen that the wall 41 of the turning chute or conduit has one end fastened to the post or column 27, while its other end is secured to the framework of the platform at a point adj acent to the dumping-cradle. The other wall 42 of said turning chute or conduit has a generally curved contour conforming approximately to the contour of the wall 41, but the end of said wall 42 adjacent to the dumping-cradle is given the quarter-turn shape hereinbefore indicated for the purpose of permitting the bound sheaf from the dumpingcradle to lodge on said wall. The bound sheaf is delivered in an approximately horizontal I position from the dumping-cradle, with the one of the rakes.

buttend of the sheaf next to the curved wall 41 of the conduit, but as the cradle is lowered the bound sheaf is adapted to lodge upon the quarter-turned part of the wall 42 of said conduit. WVith the conduit is associated means for positively moving and feeding the sheaf lengthwise through the conduit, and as the sheaf traverses the conduit under the action of the feeding mechanism it travels along the curved turned surface of the wall 42, so that the sheaf will gradually assume an upright position within the conduit, whereby the sheaf is made to occupy a vertical position by the time it is ready to emerge from the conduit and travel between the posts or columns to enter the space of the shockforming mechanism. The curved walls of the chute or conduit are made, preferably, of stout sheet metal or any other suitable mate rial, and the inner quarter-turned Wall 42 is provided with two series of longitudinal slots 44 45, each of said slots having webs 46,which join the slotted portions of the wall together in order to secure the necessary strength and stability to the wall. The walls 44 are in that portion of the quarter-turned wall 42 adjacent to the vibratory crate 3'4, and these slots are disposed in a different horizontal plane and out of alinement with the slots 45 in that section of the wall which is joined to the post 26, whereby the slots are arranged to accommodate the fingers of the movable rakes that serve to feed the bound sheaf lengthwise of the chute or conduit.

47 designates a vertical shaft which is supported on the platform adjacent to the post or column 26 and the vertical portion of the wall 42, having. the longitudinal slots 45, and said shaft has a crank 48, adapted to receive The lower end of this vertical shaft 47 is journaled in a stepped bearing 49, fixed firmily to the platform 16, and the upper part of this shaft 47 is held in place by means of a bearing 50, which is fixed firmly to the plate or beam of the adjustable frame 30. The vertical crank-formed shaft 47 is propelled from the main driving-shaft 21 through suitable gearing, and as one type of this gearing we employ a sprocket-wheel 51, which is fixed to the shaft 47 near its lower end. An endless sprocketchain 52 passes around the sprocket wheel 51 and around a sprocket-gear 53, secured firmly to the shaft 21. An idle guide roller 53 is mounted on the platform to bear against one strand of the sprocket-chain 52, and, if de sired, this idler-roller may be mounted for adjustment relatively to the shaft in order to take up any slack therein.

54 designates another crank-formed shaft, which is arranged in the generallyinclined position adjacent to the quarter-turned length of the conduit-wall 42, and this shaft is pro Vided with a crank 55. The lower end of the crank-shaft is journaled in a stepped bearing 56, secured to the platform, and the other upper end of the inclined crank-shaft is connected operatively to the lower end of a short vertical shaft 57. This shaft 57 is disposed parallel to the upper part of the shaft 47, andsaid shaft 57 is journaled in a bearing 58, secured firmly to an arm 59, which is fixed to the post 18. The adjacent ends of the shafts 54 57 are united together by a joint or coupling 60, which insures the transmission of the motion of the shaft 57 to the crank-shaft 54, and thus the crankshaft 54 may be positively propelledin unison with the vertical shaft 47 by suitable gear appliances, to be presently described, notwithstanding the inclination of the crank-shaft 54 to the vertical shaft 47, said crank-shaft 54 lying below or to one side of the quarter-turned section of the conduitwall 42. Sprocket-gears 61 62 are fastened, respectively, to the shafts 47 57 in a horizontal plane above the joint or coupling 60, between the shafts 54 57, and these sprocketgears are connected operatively by an endless sprocket-chain 63, which engages with the teeth of said sprocket-gears, thus adapting the vertical shaft 47 to drive the inclined crank-shaf t 54 through the intermediate gearing and the short vertical shaft 57, whereby the two cran k-shafts 47 54 may rotate at equal speeds in order to operate the two rakes 64 65 in unison.

The rake 64 has a series of tines which are connected to the crank 55 of the vertical shaft 54, and the tines of said rake 64 are arranged to travel or play in the slots 45 of the turned wall 42, forming a part of the conduit. The other rake 65 has a like series of fines connected to the crank 48 of the shaft 47, and the tines of the rake 65 are disposed in different planes to the tines of the rake 64 in order that the rake-tines 65 may travel and play in the slots 44 of the quarter-turned section of I the conduit-wall 42. Each rake 64 or 65 has its series of tines secured firmly to cross-heads 64 65, respectively, (see Fig. 3,) and the tines of each rake-head are fitted loosely on the crank of one shaft, so as to travel or play with said crank in the rotary motion of the shaft; but each rake is combined with means which limit, in a measure, the rotary travel of said rake with the crank of the shaft in order to make the rake travel in an irregu; larly-shaped path. A bell-crank stay-lever 66 is fulcrumed at its angle, as at 67, to a fixed arm 68 on the post 18, (see Fig. 4,) and one end of this bell-crank stay-lever is pivoted at 69 to an extended end of one tine on the rake-head 64, (see Fig. 3,) whereby the lever 66 is adapted to limit the travel or play of the rake 65 with the crank 48 of the vertical shaft 47. To the other arm of this bell-crank stay-lever is pivoted one end of the pitman 39, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which pitman extends to the crank-arm of the dumping-cradle 34, and this cradle is thus adapted to be vibrated or oscillated in a vertical plane by proper connections from its shaft 35 to the crank of the shaft 47, thus operating the dumping-cradle in unison with the oscillatory movement of the sheaf-feeding rakes. The travel of the other rake 64 with the crank of the shaft 54 is limited by means of a stay-link 70, which is pivoted at one end to an extended part of one rake-tine 64, as at 71, while the other end of this staylink is pivoted at 72to an arm 73, fixed on the post 18, all as clearly shown by Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be understood that the two shafts 47 54 are driven at uniform speeds and that the cranks of said shafts are adapted to actuate the rakes 64 65. As the cranks of the shafts travel toward the slotted turned wall 42 of the conduit the teeth of the rakes are projected through the slots of the Wall 42 in order that the rakes may engage with the sheaf, and by fitting the rakes loosely on the cranks of the shafts and limiting, in a measure, the travel of said rakes with the shaft-cranks by the employment of the stay-lever and the staylink the rakes are caused to ,turn on the shaft-cranks in order to sweep through the slots of the wall 42 and to be retracted positively therefrom. The movement of each rake with the crank of the shaft may be said to consist of a projecting movement into the conduit, a traveling movement through, the conduit, and a retract-ing movement of the rake from the conduit, after which the rake is carried back to its initial position on the completion of the rotation of the crank in order to repeat the operation, and the movement of the'two rakes is so controlled by the disposition of the cranks upon the shafts and the arrangement of the stay-lever and staylink that the rake 65 will engage with the bound sheaf after the rake 64 has moved the sheaf part way along the length of the conduit or chute. The rake 64 operates to carry the sheaf along a part of the length of the cond uit having the quarter-turned section of the wall 42, and the rake 64 engages with the sheaf after the rake 64 is free therefrom, so that the rake 65 will carry the sheaf to a position between the posts or columns 26 27.

We will now proceed to describe the shockforming mechanism of our machine, to which the bound sheaves are delivered from the conduit and the rake-operating feed mechanism. This shock-forming mechanism is situated over the inclined section of the platform 16, and said mechanism essentially includes two yieldable members 75 76, which are carried by rock-shafts 77 78, journaled or mounted, respectively, on the posts or columns 26 27. Each member of the shocleforming mechanism consists of a series of curved arms, and the arms of one member 75 are disposed in a difierent horizontal plane from the arms of the other members 76, whereby the oppositelycurved arms of the two members are arranged to pass each other and to assume the positions represented by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each rock-shaft 77 or 78, which carries one member of the shock-forming mechanism, is made extensible or telescopic, and each rock-shaft consists, therefore, of members 79 80, which are joined together ina manner to permit the member 80 to be raised or lowered with the adjustable frame 30 with out, however, uncoupling the member 80 from the member 79, so that the two parts of the shaft will rotate under all conditions of adjustment of the frame 30. The lower member 79 ofeach vertical rock-shaft is journaled in a bearing 81, secured firmly to one post or column, and the other adjustable member 80 of said rock-shaft is mounted in a bearing 82 on the plate or beamof the frame 30. The adjustable member 80 of each rock-shaft has a squared lower end 83, which fits snugly in a polygonal socket 84 on the shaft member 79, or the two members of each rock-shaft may be keyed together in order .to permit the extension of the shaft and the rotation of the two parts thereof.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the two rock-shafts have their lower members journaled in bearings on the posts or columns, while their parts are journaledin bearings attached to the vertically-adj ustable frame 30, and thus any vertical adjustment of the frame 30 will lengthen or shorten the rock-shafts of the shock-forming mechanism. The adjustment of the rock-shafts, however, to accommodate the mechanism to sheaves of different heights does not affect the members 77 78, because they are fastened to the lower nonextensible members 79 of said rockshafts. The two members of the shock-form ing mechanism are adapted to move outwardly or laterallyat uniform rates of speed, and to insure this adjustment we employ the gear-segments 85 86, which are secured firmly to the upper members 80 of the rock-shafts 77 78, and said gear-segments are arranged to face one another and to intermesh directly together, whereby a movement of one shaft Will imparta corresponding movement to the other shaft, and thus the two members 75 76 will be spread or opened to a uniform extent.

One of the peculiar features of our improved shock-forming mechanism resides in the adaptation of the members 75 76 to open automatically and freely as the sheaves are delivered successively thereto by the rake-feeding mechanism operating in the turning chute or conduit, and after a sufficient number of sheaves have been deposited in the members of the shock-forming mechanism said sheaves are bound and tied into a shock, after which the members 75 76 of said shock-forming mechanism are opened positively and automatically to their full limits in order to permit the bound and tied shock to be positively carried away or discharged from the machine without hindrance from the parts of the shockforming mechanism. A coiled spring 87 is fitted loosely on one of the rock-shaftsas, for instance, the shaft 77-and. one end of said spring is secured to said shaft 77, while the other end is attached to the post 26, whereby the spring is adapted to return the rock-shafts and the members 75 76 to their normal closed positions after the removal of the bound and tied shock from the platform of the machine. The shaft 77, carrying one member 75, has its segment 85 formed with a cam or eccentric 88, which is adapted to positively actuate a stop-lever of a trip mechanism, while the other shaft 78 has its segment provided with an upwardly-extending post 89, said post being provided with a crosshead 90, which supports a pin or stud 91 in the path of one element of the binding and tying mechanism for the purpose of positively opening the shock-formin g members to their full limit at a period subsequent to the binding and tying of the sheaves into the completed shock, all as will hereinafter appear.

We will now proceed to describe the mech-' 'anism by which a binding-cord may be passed around the sheaves and tied around the same to complete the shock, and in this connection it is desired to state that the binding and tying mechanism is carried or supported entirely by the vertically-adjustable frame 30 in order that the binding cord or twine may be passed around the upper part of the shock without reference to the height of the shock or the length of the grain. A hanger 92 is secured firmly to the plate or beam 31 of the frame 30, and said hanger is formed with a horizontally-disposed foot 93, said foot having alined guides 94-, which are disposed in a plane at one side of the delivery end of the chute or conduit 40. A needle-bar 95 is arranged in a horizontal plane and is fitted slidably in the guides 94: on the hanger-foot, and this needle-bar is adapted to reciprocate in a rectilinear path across the delivery end of the formed head into operative relation to a knotter device on a vertical knotter-shaft 98. This vertical knotter-shaft is arranged in a vertical position adjacent to the post or column 27, and said shaft is journaled in proper bearings 99 99, which are fastened to one of the brackets 32 and the plate or beam 31, respectively, of the vertically-adjustable frame 30, whereby the knotter-shaft is journaled in bearings which are carried by said frame 30, so that the shaft may be adjusted vertically with the frame. The lower end of the knotter-shaft 98 protrudes below the bearing 99 on the bracket of the frame, and to said end of the shaft is .connected the knotter device 100, said knotter device being supported bythe shaft in proper relation to the head of the needle-bar when the latter is advanced or projected across the delivery end of the chute or conduit, so that the knotter device will coact with the needle-bar in order to form a knot in the binding-cord which incloses the shock. We have. not considered it essential to illustrate and describe in detail any particular form of knotter device for tying the binding cord which unites the series of sheaves into a grain-shock, because the knotter device may be of the usual or any preferred construction known to those skilled in the art.

The vertical knotter-shaft is adapted to be driven or rotated intermittently from a horizontal shaft 101, which is arranged lengthwise of the plate or beam forming a part of the adjustable frame 30. This horizontal shaft is journaled in suitable hearings on the upper side of said frame, and at one end it isprovided with a gear 102, which meshes directly with the gear 103, which is fixed to the upper part of the knotter-shaft 98. A short counter-shaft 104 is also mounted in bearings 105 on the adjustable frame 30, and this counter-shaft is disposed at right angles to the shaft 101 and to the vertical crank-formed shaft 47. The end of the transverse counter-shaft 104 adjacent to the shaft 47 is provided with a beveled gear 106, which meshes with a similar gear 107, attached to the up per part of the vertical shaft 17, and as the counter-shaft is mounted on the frame 30 to partake of any vertical adjustment thereof we find it necessary to attach the gear 107 to the upper part of thevertical shaft 47 in a manner to permit of vertical adjustment of said gear 107 on said shaft 47. This rigid fastening of the gear 107 on the shaft 47 may be effected in any suitable way-as, foriustance, by providing a spline on the shal't47 to fitin a keyseat of the gear 107, or the upper end of the shaft 47 may be squared to fit ina similar opening of the gear 107. The transverse counter-shaft 104 is provided with a trip-controlled gear 108, which is mounted loosely on the countershaft 104, and said gear 108 meshes with a beveled gear 108 which is fastened securely to the end of the horizontal shaft 101, which end of said shaft 101 terminates adjacent to the transverse counter-shaft. The vertical shaft 47 serves to continuously rotate the counter-shaft 104 through the intermeshing gears 106 107; but as the trip-controlled gear 108 is fitted loosely on the shaft 104 the gear 108 is adapted to rotate with the shaft 104 at certain periods for the proper operation of the binding and tying mechanism and the shockforming mechanism in order to completely open the latter mechanism for the removal of the bound shock therefrom. This trip-controlled gear 108 has a hub 109,which is formed with an integral trip-disk 110, carrying a tripplate 111, which is shown in Fig. 2 as having a downwardly-extended finger 111% against which is seated a coiled spring that limits the movement or play of the trip-plate on said disk 110. This trip-plate is pivoted at a point intermediate its length, as 112, on the disk 110 of the gear 108, and said trip-plate has a stud 113, which is adapted to be actuated by a similar stud on a triparm which rotates continuously with the counter-shaft. The trip-plate 111 is, furthermore, equipped with an upwardly-extending stop-finger 114, and with this trip-plate is associated a spring 115, which is attached to the trip-disk 110 and which normally holds the trip-plate under tension, so as to interpose its stud113 into the path of the trip-arm when the stop-finger 114 of said trip'plate is free from engagement with a stop-lever. The triparm 116 is se-, cured firmly to the counter-shaft 104in order to rotate therewith at all times, and this triparm is attached to the counter-shaft adjacent to the trip-plate 111. The free end of the triparm 116 is equipped with a laterally-extending stud 117,- which, as before indicated, is adapted under certain conditions to engage with the stud 113 on the trip-plate. The tripplate is normally engaged with a bell-crank stop-lever118, which is fulcrumed at 119 on a fixed post 1200f the adjustable frame 30, and the horizontal arm of this stop-lever has an offset end 121, which is disposed in the path of the stop-finger 114 on the trip-plate, whereby the stop-lever holds the trip-plate against the tension of the spring 115 in a position to retract the stud 113 out of the orbit orpath of the stud 117 on the trip-arm 1l6,which rotates continuouslywiththecounter-shaft. Theverticalarm of the stop-lever 118 is disposed contiguous to the path of the cam 88 on the gear-segment of the rock-shaft 77, and after the proper number of sheaves shall have been deposited in the shock-forming mechanism to open the members 75 76 to certain positions this cam 88 impinges against the lower end of the stoplever 118 to move the latter against the tension of its retracting-spring 121, said spring serving to normally hold the bell-crank lever,

in a position for its offset end 121 to lie in the path of the stop-finger 114 on the trip-plate 111. The stop-lever, as hereinbefore indicated, normally holds the trip-plate in a position for its stud 113 to lie out of the path of the stud 117 on the rotary trip-arm 116, and thus the gear 108 is adapted to remain idle on the counter-shaft 104 in order to arrest the movement of the needle-bar and the knotter mechanism, which coacts therewith. On the opening of the members of the shock-forming mechanism, as described, the cam 88 rides against one end of the stop-lever 118 in order to lift the offset end 121 of said lever from engagement with the stop-finger 114 of the trip-disk, and the spring 115 of said disk-bar thereupon becomes active to move the tripplate 111 into a position where its stud 113 will be interposed into the path of the stud 117 on the rotary trip-arm. The trip-arm is thus temporarily connected with the trip plate, which is carried by the disk 110 of the gear 108, and the trip-arm and gear are thus caused to rotate together during the period of engagement of the cam 88 with the lever 118. The rotation of the gear 108 drives the shaft 101 and the knotter-shaft to actuate the knotter mechanism 100, and the rotation of the knotter-shaft 98 actuates devices by which the needle-bar is retracted. One of the devices for reciprocating the needle-bar is an upright drivinglever 122, fulcrumed at a point intermediate its length at 123 on an arm 124, which is carried by the frame 30, and the lower end of this driving-lever is linked at 125 to the needle-bar. To the upper end of the driving-lever is pivoted one end of a horizontal pitman 126, the other end of which is fitted loosely to a wrist-pin 127 on a cranked disk 128, which is fast with the knotter-shaft to rotate therewith. The rotation of the knotter-shaftth rough the trip-controlled gear and the horizontal shaft from the counter-shaft 104 thus actuates the knotter device and the needle-bar to make the elements of the knotforming mechanism operate in unison for tying the knot, and the retraction of the needle bar subsequent to the tying of the knot in the binding-cord around the shock causes a length of twine or cord to be stretched across the space or delivery end of the chute or conduit, so that the binding-cord will be carried with the sheaf into the space inclosed by the movable members of the shock-forming mechanism. The pitman 126, which connects the cranked disk of the knotter-shaft to the drivinglever for the reciprocating needle-bar, is arranged to impinge or ride against the stud or pin 91 on the head of the gear-segment 86, and this action of the pitman 126 takes iIo place subsequent to the formation of the knot in the binding-twine, whereby the pitman actuates the rock-shaft 78 and through the gearsegments the rock-shaft 77 to open the members 75 76 of the shock-forming mechanism to their full limits, thus permitting the shock to be removed from the platform without hindrance from the shock-forming mechanism.

Before proceeding to describe the means by which the bound shock is discharged from the platform of the machine we desire to call attention to the employment of the yieldable guides 129 130, which are provided within the chute or conduit 40 for the purpose of de fleeting thebound sheaves toward the quarter-turned wall 42 of said conduit in a manner for the feeding-rakes to properly engage with said sheaves. One series of these yield able guides 129 is attached to the conduitwall 41 opposite to the quarter-turned section of the wall 42, and another series of these yieldable guides 130 is attached to said wall 41 opposite the vertical part of the Wall 42, which is joined to the post 26. Said yieldable guides consist, preferably, of strips or plates of metal fastened at their ends to the wall 41 and bowed laterally therefrom, so as to lie in the path of the sheaves, and the strips forming the guides 129 are disposed in alternate relation to the strips of the guides 130, so that the contiguous ends of the two series of guides are adapted to overlap, as clearly shown by Fig. 1. In order to direct the sheaves centrally into the space inclosed between the yieldable members of the shock forming mechanism, we employ the guide-fingers 131 132, which are fastened, respectively, to the posts or columns 26 27. These guide-fingers are bowed or curved inwardly toward each other and extend from the posts past the rockshafts 77 78 and into the space inclosed by the shock-forming members 75 76, and said fingers 131 132 are yieldahle, so as to permit the sheaf under the feeding action of the rake to pass readily between said fingers.

As hereinbefore indicated, the members 76 of the shock-forming mechanism are positively opened subsequent to the formation of the shock to an unrestrictedly wide extent for the bound shock to be discharged from the platform, and in this connection it is desired to state that the inclination of the platform facilitates the removal of the bound shock from the machine and also permits the shock under the action of the delivery apparatus to stand grain-end up on the ground. In adapting the shock removing or delivery apparatus to the inclined section of the platform 16 we employ a driving-shaft 133, which occupies a horizontal position in the slot 25 of said platform, said shaft being arranged across the platform and journaled in suitable bearings thereon. Said shaft 133 has driving sprocketwheels 134 secured fast thereto, and at the free opposite end of said platform are provided the idler-sprockets 135, which are mounted on stub-axles 135, supported by slotted bear-' ings 136, said bearings being fastened adjustably to the platform in order to take up any slack which may -occur in the endless chains 138. These chains are arranged near the side edges of the platform and are fitted operatively to the driving-sprockets 134 and idlersprockets 135, whereby the chains are properlysupported in relation to the platform and are adapted to be positively propelled by the shaft 133. These endless chains carry two pusher-bars, (indicated at 139 140,) and said pusher-bars are fastened securely to certain of the links, so as to be properly spaced apart on the endless chains. The driving-shaft 133 is adapted to be driven intermittently, so that during the formation of the shock the delivery apparatus will remain at rest. When in operation, one of the pusher-bars is adapted to travel the length of the inclined section of the platform in order to force the bound shock from said platform and deposit said shock on the ground, and after this operation shall have been effected the delivery apparatus is again arrested. This stopping and starting of the delivery apparatus are effected by a clutchcontrolled drivinggear, which is thrown automatically into operation by devices actuated on the final opening movement of the shock-forming apparatus; but the arrestation of said shock-delivery apparatus is.

effected by devices carried by one of the endless chains and adapted also to actuate the clutch-controlled devices of the driving-gear. To this end we provide trip-fingers 141 142 on one of the endless chains,and one tripfinger 141 is disposed on said chain a suitable distance in advance of the pusher-bar 139,while the other trip-finger occupies a like relation to the other pusher-bar 140. One element of the driving mechanism for the operation of the shock-delivery apparatus is a beveled gear 143, having a clutch-formed hub 144, fitted loosely on the end of the shaft 133,which terminates adjacent to the main driving-shaft 21, and said gear 143 is normally in mesh with the beveled gear 24 on said shaft 21, whereby the gear 143 is adapted to rotate idly on the shaft 133 during the period of feeding the bound sheaves and of forming said sheaves into the shock. A slidable clutch 145 is keyed to the shaft 133 in a position to engage with the clutch-hub 144 of the gear 143; but under normal conditions this clutch is held free from engagement with the gear 143 by the shipping-lever 146, which is disposed in the path of the trip-fingers 14]. 142 on a chain of the shock-delivery mechanism. The shippinglever 146 occupies a horizontal position at one side of the platform, and it is fulcrumed at 147 to a fixed bracket-arm 148 on said platform, said shipping-lever having a beveled nose 156, which lies in the path of the tripfingersf This shipping-lever has operative connections with the slidable clutch 145, and

one of these connections is a bell-crank lever 149, which is disposed in a position at right angles to the shipping-lever 146. The be1l- IIO crank lever 149 is fulcrumed at 150 to the fixed post 151, and one arm of said bell-crank lever is connected at 152 to the shipping-lever 146, while the other arm of the bell-crank leveris connected to a cl utch-rod 153, the clutch rod having a forked end 154 loosely connected to the slidable clutch 145 and said clutch-rod being hung at 155 on a suitable part of the platform. A coiled spring 146 is connected with one of said levers, preferably the lever 149, to depress the lever 146 in the path of the trip-fingers and to move the lever 149 in a direction for its upright arm to move the clutch-rod 153 and the clutch 145 in a direction to normally free the said clutch 145 from engagement with the hub 144 of the gear 143, whereby the gear 143 may rotate idly on the shaft 133 and the shock deliv ery conveyer may remain at rest; but when the liftingfinger 162 engages with the finger 160 on the trip-shaft 157 on the opening of the shock mechanism to its full limit, as will hereinafter appear, the shipping-lever 146 is raised to'move the bell-crank lever in a direction to shift the clutch 145 into engagement with the clutch-formed hub 144, and thus make the gear 143 fast with the shaft 133, whereby said shaft will be driven from the bevel-gear 24 of the shaft 21, and thus propel the endless chains, which, in connection with the pusherbars, constitute the shock-delivery mechanism, thus automatically bringingthe shockdelivery conveyer into service. y

The clutch 145 is thrown automatically out of engagement with the gear 143 after the shock shall have been removed from the platform by the action of one pusher-bar of the endless shock-delivery conveyer, and this automatic operation is effected by one of the conveyer trip-fingers 141 or 142 engaging with the nose of the shipping-lever 146 to lift the latter. This releases the trip-shaft 157, so its finger 160 is free from restraint of the finger 162 on a shaft of the shock-forming mechanism, whereupon the spring 146 reacts to pull the levers 146 and 148 in a direction to move the rod 153 to a position for unshipping the clutch 145 from the gear 144, thereby arresting the shock-delivery conveyer. The clutch is automatically engaged with the gear 143 by a trip-shaft 157, which is disposed in a horizontal position above the shaft 133, one end of said trip-shaft being journaled in a bearing on the post 26 and its opposite end in a similar bearing on the bracket-arm 148. This trip-shaft is connected operatively with the shipping-lever 146 by a link 159, having its respective ends attached to the shippinglever, and an arm 158, which isfast with the trip-shaft, and near its other end this tripshaft is provided with a finger 160, having its free end formed with a beak 161, said finger being disposed in the path of the lifting-pin 162, which is fastened securely to the lower end ofthe rock-shaft 77,journaled on the post or column 26. After the sheaves shall have been deposited in the shock-forming mechanism, the binding-cord tied around the sheaves to form the shock, and the members of the shock-forming mechanism shallhav'e been opened to their full limit by the pitman 126 riding against the pin or stud 91 the lifting-finger 162 rides against the beak of the finger 160 in order to rock the trip-shaft 157 in its bearings, said lifting-finger or p'in' 162 being engaged with the beak of the tripshaft finger 160 in order to hold the members of the shock-forming mechanism in their run opened positions. shaft finger and the rocking of the trip-shaft raises the arm 158 and the link 159 in order to elevate the shipping-lever146, so as to throw the bell-crank and clutch-"rod in a direction to move the clutch automaticallyinto engagement with the clutch-hub of the gear 143, whereby the driving mechanism for the shock-delivery mechanism is adapted to be propelled from the gear 24 on the drivingshaft 21. i

163 designates a twine-box which is attached to the platform or any suitable part ofthe framework, and the twine from this box is conducted through suitable guides 164 to the eye-formed head of the retractory needle-bar.

The operation may be briefly summarized as follows: The members of the shock-form- This elevation of the trip= ing mechanism are closed together substantially as represented by Fig; 1, and the twine from the needle-bar isthreaded across the U withoneof the pusher-barsbelowthe plane of the platform. After the grain shall have been compacted into a gavel and the gavel shall have been bound and tied to form the sheaf by the familiar mechanism of a grainbinding machine the completed sheaf is deposited on the dumping-cradle, said cradle being raised to a position for the convenient reception of the bound sheaf from the delivery side of the binder. The dumping-cradle is lowered by the pitman connections with the rake65, and the sheaf is thus free to roll out or travel on the quarter-turned section of the conduit-wall 42. The sheaf is discharged from the cradle with its butt-end toward the are fed successively by the rakes through the conduit and forced into the space between yieldable members 76 of the shock-forming mechanism, and during the feeding of the boundsheaves to the shock-forming mechanism the members 75, 76 thereof are free to open or spread in an outward direction, such 5 v 122 in a manner to reciprocate the needle-bar opening movement of the members taking place uniformly by reason of the rock-shafts of said members being intergeared together for simultaneous and uniform movement. As the sheaves are forced into the shock-formin g mechanism the binding-twine is fitted around said sheaves, and after a sufficient number of sheaves shall have accumulated in the shockforming mechanism the cam or eccentric 88 of the gear-segment of the rock-shaft forming a part of the shock-forming member impinges against one end of the bell-crank stop-lever 118 in order to move said stop-lever to retract its offset end 121 from the path of the stop-finger 114 on the trip-plate. The spring 115 of the trip-plate now becomes active to move the trip-plate on its pivot and thus throw the stud 113 of the trip-plate into the path of the stud 117 on the trip-arm 116, which isfast with the counter-shaft 104. The motion of the counter-shaft is thus communicated to the horizontal shaft 101 to drive the kn'otter mechanism, and the rotation of the counter-shaft rotates the cranked disk 128 to move the pitman 126 and driving-lever This needle-bar is thus moved into operative relation to the knotting mechanism on the vertical shaft 98, and the twine which encompasses the shock is thus tied and severed automatically in a manner familiar to the ordinary knotter mechanism of grainbinders. During the return of this needlebar to its normal position the pit-man 126 rides against the stud 91 to rock the shaft 78, and through the intermeshing gear-segments the two rock-shafts are actuatedto positively open the shock-forming members 75 76 to their full limit, and during this adjustment of the rock-shafts the lifting-pin 162 engages with the beak of the finger 160 on the trip-shaft 157,thereby locking the members of the shock forming mechanism to their full open positions. The needle-bar is returned to its normal position by the completion of the rotations of the knotter-shaft, and the spring of the lever 118 acts to return its ofiset end into the path of the stop-finger of the trip-plate 111, whereby the trip-plate is engaged with the stop-lever to withdraw its stud 113 from the trip-arm 116, and thus the gear 108 is antomatically disengaged from the trip-arm 116 to permit the knotter-shaft and the needlebar to come to a period of rest. The rocking of the trip-shaft 157 lifts the shipping-lever 146 to move the intermediate connections with the clutch 145, thereby making the gear 143 fast with the shaft 133, and thisshaft is adapted to propel the endless chains in order to make one pusher-bar travel across the upper face of the platform. This movement of the pusher-bar shoves or forces the bound shock off the platform, so as to stand end up on the ground, and by the time that the pusher-bar reaches the outer end of the platform the trip-finger,which is disposed in advance of the other pusherbar, rides against the nose of the shippinglever 146, thereby actuating said lever against the tension of the spring 146 and operating the clutch 145 to move the latter from engagement with the gear 143. The operation of the shipping-lever by the trip-finger on the endless chain not only unclutches the gear 143, but it'actuates the trip-shaft-157 to release the finger 160 from the lifting-pin 162 on the rock-shaft 77, and the spring 87 of the rockshaft 77 reacts to turn the members 75 76 of the shock-forming mechanism to their normally-closed positions. It will be understood that the operation of feeding the bound sheaves from the binder continues uninterruptedly, and these sheaves are thus fed to the shock-forming mechanism until a sufficient number shall have accumulated to form another shock, when the operation hereinbefore described is repeated indefinitely to form shocks, which are discharged automatically from the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is 1. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism forgrainhinders, the combination of a vertical shockforming mechanism having yieldable compressor members held under tension and arranged to compress sheaves delivered thereto, a horizontal delivery mechanism adapted to receive bound sheaves from a grain-binder, a turning chute or conduit between-the shockforming mechanism and said delivery mechanism and having a wall contiguous to the delivery mechanism inclined at one end and vertical at the other for turning the bound sheaves to an upright position and delivering said sheaves in such condition to the shockforming mechanism, and a binding mechanism for binding the upright sheaves confined within the shock-forming mechanism into a compact shock, substantially as described.

, 2. Inasheaf-shockingmechanism for grainbinders, the combination of a horizontal delivery mechanism, a vertical shock-forming mechanism, having yieldable members normallyclosed to subject bound sheaves to compression,a turning-00nd uit between the delivery mechanism and the shock-forming mechanism having a wall inclined at one end and vertical at the other for standing the bound sheaves grain-end up during their travel to the shock-forming mechanism,means for binding the sheaves into a shock while confined in their upright condition within the shockadvancing sheaves to the shock forming mechanism, a shock-delivery conveyer traversing the grain-space below the members of the shock-forming mechanism, a clutch-controlled driving mechanism for the shock-delivery conveyer, and trip connections between an element of the shock-forming mechanism and the clutch of the shock-delivery driving mechanism to automatically start the shockdelivery conveyer on the opening of the shock-forming members to their full limit, substantially as described. f

4:. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grainbinders, the combination of a shock-forming mechanism having members turning on vertical axis and yieldable laterally on the accumulation of sheaves between the same, means for normally moving the shock-forming members into crossing relation and resisting the outward" movement of said members, a sheaf-delivery cradle vibratory on a horizontal axis, means for turning the sheaves grain-end up subsequent to their discharge from the sheaf-delivery cradle, a constantlyoperating feed mechanism'for positively advancing sheaves to and between the yieldable members of said shock-forming mechanism, means for binding the sheaves into a shock, and means fordischargin g the sheaves, substantially as described.

5. Inasheaf-shockingmechanismforgrainbinders, the combination of a shock-forming mechanism having spring-actuated members pivotally mounted independently of each other and normallyd rawn toward one another to oifer resistance to bound sheaves which accumulate therein, said members exerting pressure on the sheaves for compacting the sameinto a shock and arranged to yield antomatically to the accumulation of sheaves therein, a feeding mechanism for continuously thrusting bound sheaves between the yieldable members of the shock forming mechanism, means for binding sheaves into a shock, shock-discharge conveyerarranged to traverse the space below the members of the shock-forming mechanism, means for driving the shock-conveyer intermittently, and means for positively opening the members of the shock-forming mechanism prior to the propulsion of the shock-delivery conveyer, substantially as described.

6. Inasheaf-shockingmechanism forgrainbinders, the combination with a vertical shock-forming mechanism, of a sheaf-delivery cradle mounted for vibration on a horizontal axis, a sheaf-turning chute situated between said cradle and shock-forming mechanism, said chute having one wall inclined contiguous to the cradle, and oscillating feedrakes mounted to travel longitudinally and transversely within said turning chute or conduit, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

8. Inasheaf-shocking mechanism for grainbinders, the combination of a vertical shockforming mechanism, a sheaf-delivery cradle mounted for vibration on a horizontal axis, a turning chute or conduit having two walls one of which is provided with an inclined portion contiguous to said delivery-cradle and a vertical portion at its outer end, oscillating rakes provided with cranked hangers; and mounted one in rear of the other contiguous to the wall of the chute and projecting into the sheaf-space of the latter, and meansfor driving the rakes at uniform speed, whereby the hangers of said rakes cause them to be moved lengthwise of and transversely across the chute, substantially as described, 9. Inashock-forming mechanism forgrainr hinders, the combination 'of a vertical shockforming mechanism, a horizontal sheaf-delivery mechanism, a turning chute or conduit having one of its walls provided with longi-' tudinal slots and withan inclined section an ranged contiguous tothesheaf-delivery mechanism for the sheaves to lodge thereon and a vertical section contiguous to the shockforming mechanism, upright crank-shafts mounted adjacent to said slotted wall of the conduit, feeding-rakes carried and actuated by said crank-shafts and arranged to play in the slotted Wall of the conduit, and means for 10. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for,

grain-binders, the combinationof a shockforming mechanism, a sheaf-delivery mechanism in active relation to a binder, a turning chute or conduit having two walls,one of which is inclined at one end and vertical at the other end, said wall being provided with with the cranks of said shafts, substantially,

as described. i

11. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of ashockforming mechanism, a vibratory sheaf-delivery cradle hung on a'horizontal shaft, aturn ing-chute having a curved wall adjacent to said cradle, a sheaf-feeding mechanism be tween said cradle and the shock-forming mechanism, a lever actuated by a member of the sheaf-feeding mechanism, and connection's between the lever and the shaft of said cradle to vibrate the latter for depositing a sheaf on the curved wall of said conduit, substantially as described.

12. In a sheafshocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism, a sheaf-delivery mechanism adjacent to a binder and consisting of a vibratory cradle arranged to receive the bound sheaves from said binder, a feeding mechanism operable to move the bound sheaves to the shock-forming mechanism, and intermediate connections between one member of the feeding mechanism and the vibratory cradle to positively actuate the latter, substantially as described.

13. In a sheafshocking mechanism for grain-binders, a shock-forming mechanism comprising members arranged to overlap each other and carried by rock-shafts, gearing between said rock-shafts for insuring simultaneous movement to said members, and means for normally holding the members closed while permitting them to yield automatically to the accumulation of sheaves therein, in combination with means for feeding bound sheaves into the space inclosed by said members, means for positively opening said members to their full limits and free from engagement with the shock, a binding and tying mechanism, and a sh oak-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

14. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, a shock-forming mechanism comprising rock-shafts intergeared together for simultaneous and uniform motion, in opposite directions, members carried by said rock-shafts and adapted to overlap each other to inclose a space within which beund sheaves may be deposited, a spring connected to one of said shafts to hold the members in their closed positions and to permit said members to yield automatically on the accumulation of sheaves therein, in combination with a shock binding and tying mechanism, a sheaf-feeding mechanism arranged to successively deposit the bound sheaves in the space between said members, and a shock-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

15. In a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism having vertical members carried by vertical pivotal shafts arranged parallel oneto the other and intergeared together, the members being yieldable simultaneously in opposite directions on theaccumulation of sheaves therein, means for normally drawing together said members of the shock-forming mechanism and making them exert pressure on the sheaves, a sheaf-feeding mechanism, a binding and knottermechanism, a knotter-driving mechanism, and trip devices between one of the pivotal shafts of the shock-forming mechanism and the knotter-driving mechanism to throw the latter automatically into gear when the members of the shock-forming mechanism shall have been spread laterally by the accumulation of bound sheaves therein, substantially as described.

16. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism having the vertical duplicate yieldable members carried by vertical pivotal shafts arranged parallel and intergeared together for simultaneous movement in opposite directions, means for normally holding the members of the shock-forming mechanism closed together to exert pressure on the sheaves, a sheaf-feeding mechanism, a knotter shaft, a needle bar reciprocable across the path of the sheaf-feeding mechanism, a driving mechanism geared to the knotter-shaft and connected operatively with the needle-bar for actuating said parts in unison one with the other, and alternately with respect to the yieldable movement of the members comprising the shock-forming mechanism, trip devices operable by one member of the shockforming mechanism to automatically throw the driving mechanism into service atone period in the outward movement of the members constituting the shock-forming mechanism, and means for opening the shock-forming mechanism to their full limits subsequent to the operation of the binder and knotter devices, substantially as described.

, 17. In a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of avertical shock-forming mechanism having spring-actuated compressor members carried by intergeared vertical shafts and controlled by a retracting-sprin g to render said members yieldable under the accumulation of sheaves there in, a knotter-shaft, a needle-bar, a driving shaft, 104:, having a gear mounted idly thereon, a shaft connecting said idle gear with the knotter-shaft, operative connections between the knotter-shaft and the needle-bar to reciprocate the latter,a trip-arm fast with the shaft, 104:, a trip-plate connected with the idle gear and disposed contiguous to the trip-arm, a stop-lever, 118, in the path ofv the trip-plate to hold the latter free from the trip-arm, and a releasing-cam carried by the pivotal shaft of one member of the shock-forming mechans ism to free the trip-plate from the stop, substantially as described.

18. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism having intergeared members carried by vertical pivotal shafts and free from each other, a cam carried by the shaft of one member of the shock-forming mechanism to retract the stop-lever from engagement with the trip mechanism, and an arm, 90, on the shaft of one member of the shock-forming mechanism actuated by the knotter-shaft-driving mechanism to release the trip mechanism and permit the shockforming members to be returned by the retracting-spring to their closed positions, substantially as described.

19. In a sheafshocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism having yieldable members carried by vertical pivotal shafts controlled by a retracting-spring to normally close the members, a knotter-shaft, a reciprocating needle-arm, a counter-shaft, 104:, a driving-gear loose on said counter-shaft, an intermediate shaft geared to the knotter-shaft and driven intermittently from the drivinggear, a yieldable trip mounted on and revoluble with said idle gear, a trip-arm fast with the counter-shaft and adapted through intermediate projections to engage with the trip on said idle gear,'a stop-lever, 118, normally engaging with said trip to hold the latter and the driving-gear at rest, areleasing-cam carried by a shaft of one member of the shockforming mechanism and engaging with the stop-lever, and mechanism for opening the members of the shook-forming mechanism to their full limits subsequent to the operation of the knotter mechanism, substantially as described.

20. In a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders,the combination of a grain-platform, a shock-forming mechanism having its members carried by pivotal shafts and normally closed together for confining a series of sheaves, a shock-delivery conveyer arranged to traverse the space below the members of the shock-forming mechanism, a clutch-controlled gear for propelling the shock-delivery conveyer, means for feeding sheaves in an upright condition to the grain-platform, between the members of the shock-forming mechanism and in the path of the shock-delivery conveyer, a binding and tying mechanism adapted to bind the sheaves while in an upright condition on the grain-platform'into a shock, means for positively opening the members of the shock-formingmechanism, subsequent to the operation of binding and tying the shock, and shipping-levers operative from one member of the shock-forming mechanism to automatically throw the driv-. ing-gear for the shock-delivery conveyer into service, substantially as described.

21. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a shockforming mechanism, a needle-bar, a knottershaft, a trip-controlled driving-gear for intermittently actuating the knotter-shaft, a stud movable with one member of the shockforming mechanism, connections between the knotter-shaft and the needle-bar to actuate {the latter and adapted to ride against the stud for positively opening the members of the shock-forming mechanism to their full limit, and a shock-delivery mechanism for carrying the shock from the shock-forming mechanism subsequent to the positive opening of the members thereof, substantially as described.

22. In a shock-forming mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a platform, a shock-forming mechanism having yieldable compressor members, means for positively opening said compressor members to their full limits, a shock-delivery conveyer having shock pusher-bars arranged to traverse the space beneath the shock-forming space inclosed by the said members of the shock-forming mechanism and to engage successively with a shock, and a clutch-controlled drivinggear for propelling the shock-delivery conveyer subsequent to the positive opening of the shock-forming mechanism, substantially as described.

23. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination with a shockforming mechanism having members adapted to be positively opened subsequent to the binding of the shock, a shock-delivery consuccessively with a completed shock subsequent to the full opening ofthe members of the shock-forming mechanism, a clutch-controlled driving-shaft for propelling the shockdelivery conveyer, a shipping-lever, devices actuated by the shock-forming mechanism on the opening of the members to the full limit to move the shipping-lever and throw the clutch-driving shaft automatically into service subsequent to the binding of the shock, and trip devices carried by the shock-delivery conveyer and adapted to engage with the shipping-lever and to throw the driving-shaft out of service, substantially as described.

24. In a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination with a shockforming mechanism having movable members arranged to confine a number of sheaves,

shock-delivery mechanism including endless chains, and pusher-bars carried by said chains to successively engage with shocks subsequent to the binding thereof, a clutch-com of the shock-delivery mechanism, a trip-lever connected with said clutch of the drivinggear, trip-fingers movable with one of said chains and arranged to actuate the shippinglever for throwing the driving-gear out of service, and a trip-shaft having a part dis= posed in the path of one member of the shockforming mechanism and also connected operatively with the shipping-lever to automatically throw the driving-gear into service when the shock-forming mechanism is open to its full limit, substantially as described.

25. In a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a stationary means for binding and tying the shock, a'

trolled driving-gear associated with the shaft 7 veyer having pusher-bars spaced to engage 1 grain-platform, a shock-forming mechanism above said platform, a shock-delivery mechanism including endless chains supported by shafts-and pusher-bars carried by said chains, said chains and shock pusher-bars of the conveyer arranged to traverse the platform and to travel beneath the space inclosed by the shock-forming mechanism,a clutch-controlled driving-gear mounted idly on ashaft of the shock-delivery conveyer, means adapted to propel said gear, a shipping-lever connected with said clutch, and trip-fingers carried by the shock-delivery conveyor to operate the shipping-levers, substantially as described.

26. In a sheaf-shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination With a shockforming mechanism consisting of laterallyyieldable members carried by vertical pivotal shafts and having one of its shafts provided nearits lower end with alifting-finger,a shockdelivery conveyer arranged to travel beneath the shock-forming mechanism, a clutch-controlled driving-gear for said shock-delivery mechanism, a shipping-lever connected With said clutch of the driving-gear, a trip-shaft linked to the shipping-lever, and a finger fast with said trip-shaft and disposed in the path of the lifting-finger, said finger being adapted to hold the members of the shock-forming mechanism in their open positions during the operation of the shock-delivery mechanism, substantially as described.

27. In a. sheafshocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a platform, posts or columns erected thereon, a frame adjustable vertically on said posts or columns, a shock -forming mechanism having rockshafts journaled on said posts or columns and the adjustable frame, and a binding and tying mechanism supported by the adjustable frame, substantially as described.

28. In a sheafshocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a platform,

posts or columns erected thereon, a frame adjustable vertically on said posts or columns, a shock-forming mechanism having extensible shafts which have the respective sections thereof mounted on said posts or columns and the adjustable frame, and a binding and tying mechanism supported or carried wholly by the adj ustable frame, whereby the shock-forming mechanism is adapted to sheaves of different heights, and the binding mechanism may pass and tie a binding-twine around the upper part of the shock confined within said shock-forming mechanism, substantially as described.

29. In' a sheaf shocking mechanism for grain-binders, the combination of a platform, posts or columns erected thereon, a horizontal frame connected to and supported by said posts or columns for adjustment vertically thereon, the sectional rock-shafts carrying the members of the shock-forming mechanism and having their respective sections j ournaled in hearings on the columns and the adjustable frame, the extensible members of said shafts being slidably coupled to the non-extensible shaft members and also geared together for simultaneous movement, a knotter-shaft carried by said frame, a needle-bar suspended from said frame and adapted to reciprocate toward the knotter-shaft, and a driving mechanism mounted on the frame and having operative connections with the knottershaft and the needle-bar, forthe purposedescribed, substantially'as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We-have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

MELVIN LIGHT. ELVEN LIGHT. ISAAC G. BUSSERT.

WVitnesses:

THEODORE HANSELL, ED. BUSSERT. 

